LAST July, super singers Aishah and Liza Hanim mesmerised Lion City fans in their two-hour Dua Diva concert at the Esplanade in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Come Malaysia Day, the dynamic duo are set to cast their spell on fans of patriotic and traditional tunes at the prestigious Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) in KLCC, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
Their two-hour extravaganza, part of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra's (MPO) 20th anniversary celebration, is themed Semalam Di Malaya from Sept 15-16.
Concert conductor Ahmad Muriz Che Rose said that on both days, the singers and MPO will pay tribute to musical icons of yesteryear in unrivalled symphonic arrangements.
“The older generation will walk down memory lane through the rendition of evergreen songs whereas the younger generation will be able to enjoy these treasured legacy in a fresh orchestral arrangement,” he said in a recent interview.
Ahmad Muriz added the songs reflect Malaysia's rich musical heritage and encompass the unifying themes of love, sacrifice and hope.
The love songs chosen for the repertoire list are Airmata Berderai, Gadis Idaman and Tunas Kasih composed by Alfonso Soliano, and Sayang Di Sayang and Setangkai Kembang Melati (Zubir Said).
As for patriotic tunes there are Tanah Pusaka (Ahmad Merican), Putera Puteri (Jimmy Boyle), and Perajurit Tanah Air and Berjaya (Saiful Bahri).
“The showcase will also present evergreen compositions such as Ibu and Jelingan Manja by Ahmad Jaafar, and Tan Sri P Ramlee’s Hujan Di Tengahari and Joget Malaysia,” said Ahmad Muriz.
He added that all of the songs were rearranged in symphonic grandeur by newer arrangers such as Leonard Yeap, Luqman Aziz, Syed Sharir Faisal Syed Hussain, Jenny Chin and Vivian Chua.
“Aishah and Liza will also be joined by singers Musly Ramlee of P. Ramlee The Musical and Rachel Guerzo, and Rachel will perform as part of her own Rachel Guerzo Trio,” he said.
Ahmad Muriz added that it was the MPO's second collaboration with Aishah (since 2009) and Musly (since 1999), while Rachel, who is Soliano’s granddaughter, presented a solo concert on the same stage in 2010.
“This will be MPO’s pioneering collaboration with Liza Hanim,” said Ahmad Muriz, adding that Semalam Di Malaya joined the ranks of MPO's traditional concerts Irama Warisan Kita (2009), Keroncong Merdeka (2012) and Malaysia Tanah Airku (2014).
He said he had worked with all of the singers previously, and was delighted to share the stage with them again.
“I toured with Aishah in the 1990s and I've also been involved in Liza's album production sometime back.
“As for Rachel, I've worked with her family on many occasions and I was especially close to her late father Salvador Guerzo — a great teacher and mentor who has shaped my music arragement style over the years.
“Having to share the stage with Rachel for this concert would also be like a homage to her father and the Soliano legacy.”
Ahmad Muriz praised Aishah for her work ethic and meticulous preparations for every concert, and described Liza as a calm and reserved person who displayed a “wonderfully charismatic” persona on stage.
“Musly always makes you feel the presence of P. Ramlee himself each time he sings, while Rachel is full of soul and character befitting a great jazz artiste.”
As for the songs he arranged, Ahmad Muriz said they were Jauh-Jauh, Tunas Kasih (originally sung by Kartina Dahari), Sayang Di Sayang, Ibu and P. Ramlee's medley comprising Nak Dara Rindu, Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti and Kwek Mambo.
Aishah, who has been singing for three decades, said it was “great to be back with the MPO in DFP”.
“I've some of my fondest memories sharing the stage with MPO in Irama Warisan Kita back in 2009. They're a world-class team who have passion for Malaysia's musical gems. I'm confident music lovers will have a great time with all of us, specially for the nation's 55th anniversary,” said Aishah.
Liza, who co-starred with Musly in P. Ramlee The Musical in 2008, said her Singapore showcase with Aishah had her “raring to go” in Semalam Di Malaya.
“Aishah and I are great friends, and fans of each other. It's my first appearance with MPO and I'm pretty excited about it,” she said.
Rachel, who has collaborated with iconic musicians Michael Veerapen, Steve Thornton and the late Farid Ali, said it was an honour to share the compositions of Malaysian greats in MPO.
“It's a star-studded showcase that pays tribute to the best of Malaysian music, and I always look forward to events like this.”
On another note, Aishah and Liza said they were in the process of resolving the non-delivery of their Gegar Vaganza 4 (GV4) bungalow lot prizes.
“We're in discussion with the company which sponsored the lots and we are optimistic things will work out right,” she said.
Aishah won GV4 last year, and Liza finished second.
Tickets for Semalam Di Malaya are priced from RM141 to RM358. The concert is at 8.30pm on Sept 15 and 3pm on Sept 16. Call 03-23317007.